This Needs a Cinematic Revisit

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Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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There a FEW of King's works that I actually wouldn't mind seeing adapted again for film, and this is one of them. Silver Bullet was great, but it would be fantastic to see a more faithful version of Cycle of The Werewolf as a film or high-profile mini-series. I would love to see someone like Bryan Fuller have a go at it, because I think the aesthetic he brings to Hannibal is gorgeous and would fit perfectly with the book's theme of changing seasons. Hire Rick Baker to do the wolf designs (following Berni Wrightson's drawings) and we would have a pretty terrific end result, I believe.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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There a FEW of King's works that I actually wouldn't mind seeing adapted again for film, and this is one of them. Silver Bullet was great, but it would be fantastic to see a more faithful version of Cycle of The Werewolf as a film or high-profile mini-series. I would love to see someone like Bryan Fuller have a go at it, because I think the aesthetic he brings to Hannibal is gorgeous and would fit perfectly with the book's theme of changing seasons. Hire Rick Baker to do the wolf designs (following Berni Wrightson's drawings) and we would have a pretty terrific end result, I believe.
...the original wasn't bad, though it looked like they spent about $5.99 on SFX....I am usually loath to have films re-done, but I have to agree this could us a make-over....
 

Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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Yes, the original was really good, but the werewolf itself was terrible. If they had spent more money on the creatures, it would have been a classic werewolf movie right up there with The Howling and American Werewolf in London. Silver Bullet is also my favourite Gary Busey role. Before he went, er... odd. :)
 

GNTLGNT

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Jun 15, 2007
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Yes, the original was really good, but the werewolf itself was terrible. If they had spent more money on the creatures, it would have been a classic werewolf movie right up there with The Howling and American Werewolf in London. Silver Bullet is also my favourite Gary Busey role. Before he went, er... odd. :)
gary-busey.jpg
 

Sunlight Gardener

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Jul 22, 2013
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...the original wasn't bad, though it looked like they spent about $5.99 on SFX....I am usually loath to have films re-done, but I have to agree this could us a make-over....

Say what you want.....but to me it still looked way better than 99% of the big budget CGI crap effects that have come out in the past 10 years as far as monster movies go. Give me low budget makeup where they actually try to do something creative over multi million dollar cartoon looking garbage any day.
 

GNTLGNT

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Jun 15, 2007
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Say what you want.....but to me it still looked way better than 99% of the big budget CGI crap effects that have come out in the past 10 years as far as monster movies go. Give me low budget makeup where they actually try to do something creative over multi million dollar cartoon looking garbage any day.
...you misunderstand...I thought it was a good film but the werewolf was poorly rendered and some of the storyline was a mish-mash...I too enjoy well done low budget...i.e. Blair Witch...
 

Sunlight Gardener

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Jul 22, 2013
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...you misunderstand...I thought it was a good film but the werewolf was poorly rendered and some of the storyline was a mish-mash...I too enjoy well done low budget...i.e. Blair Witch...

No it's cool, I get you. I still think that wolf looked better than any CGI Werewolves I've seen. Hate that ridiculous looking crap. If they keep making CGI movies for the next 50 years they will never be able approach any effect as great as anything in American Werewolf in London. I get that the effects in Silver Bullet weren't what you would call top notch but I still prefer it to anything CGI.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Apr 11, 2006
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No it's cool, I get you. I still think that wolf looked better than any CGI Werewolves I've seen. Hate that ridiculously looking crap. If they keep making CGI movies for the next 50 years they will never be able approach any effect as great anything in American Werewolf in London. I get that the effects in Silver Bullet weren't what you would call top notch but I still prefer it to anything CGI.
I agree.
 

Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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In terms of practical effects, I was thinking along the lines of what Rick Baker did in the Wolfman remake and the wolves in Dog Soldiers. The latter was a terrific werewolf movie, in case anyone hasn't seen it.
 

Aericanwizard

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Jun 15, 2011
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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I haven't seen "Silver Bullet" (add one to the to-watch pile), but I agree about CGI. One of the problems with CGI, particularly for monsters, is that the CG characters seem to lack "weight" on the screen, if that makes sense. CGI can be great, such as in "Life of Pi", where the Tiger felt real, but if it isn't that quality (and let's be honest, most horror movies won't command a blockbuster budget), it feels like the monster isn't even there. It's hard to be a menacing monster when you look like an hallucination.

I love practical effects, but it seems they are getting largely replaced by CGI.
 

Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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The Netherlands
I don't think it will ever be remade as it's a pretty minor work. And what can you do with it to make it fresh again or do differently? The book was very episodic, while the film has a more continuous flow. Especially since he adapted it himself, I doubt any screenwriter will feel he can do it better.

If they do it I hope they somehow can capture the feel of the illustrations more. The book was a lot about the changing of the seasons, I don't remember the film really adressed that so much - but haven't seen it in a while.

Cycle of the Werewolf-Artworks by Bernie Wrightson | Flickr
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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I like this movie; it has a nice warmth and charm that isn't often present in horror flicks. I despise the bad acting in a few sequences, like the public outcry in the bar scene. Cringe. Everything else is just pure fun and genuine scares in all its rough-hewn '80s glory. I'll admit, though, that the scares were more effective on me as a kid.
 

Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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The Netherlands
Yes, the original was really good, but the werewolf itself was terrible. If they had spent more money on the creatures, it would have been a classic werewolf movie right up there with The Howling and American Werewolf in London.

It was actually done by Carlo Rambaldi (best known for E.T.) who also worked on Cat's Eye.

If you remade Silver Bullet I think it could only be fun if you change the identity of the werewolf, although that way it wouldn't be faithful again.
I always liked that dreamsequence in the church. Not too many King adaptations put in dreamsequences like that which often are in the books, when all the main ingredients of the story come together in a weird almost funny way. The Dark Half put them in, but there they are more central to the plot, as Stark is a part of Beaumont.
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
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Yes, the original was really good, but the werewolf itself was terrible. If they had spent more money on the creatures, it would have been a classic werewolf movie right up there with The Howling and American Werewolf in London. Silver Bullet is also my favourite Gary Busey role. Before he went, er... odd. :)

Didn't like.
I like this movie; it has a nice warmth and charm that isn't often present in horror flicks. I despise the bad acting in a few sequences, like the public outcry in the bar scene. Cringe. Everything else is just pure fun and genuine scares in all its rough-hewn '80s glory. I'll admit, though, that the scares were more effective on me as a kid.
Perhaps this movie still strikes a chord with me for no other reason than the ephemeral, CGI enhanced quality was not there. It was scary! The narration by Marty's sister is ingrained in my consciousness, the music and sound accompanied the acting while keeping the integrity of the story in tact. Remember the look on Janey's face as she understands the identity of the villain? She reveals nothing overt,but he knows. She knows that she's "made" him, and thrill goes on. The lighting and music serve as a a sequential segue into the covered bridge trap.
No remake would measure up to the original, in my opinion. The melting down of the silver montage and the sound of his voice "how about a where wolf?", are a few reasons to keep that on the "to watch again" list.
 

mal

content
Jun 23, 2007
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...you misunderstand...I thought it was a good film but the werewolf was poorly rendered and some of the storyline was a mish-mash...I too enjoy well done low budget...i.e. Blair Witch...
Hi GNTLGNT, Blair Witch was a great film. I just loved it, especially the part about standing in the corner. What could make someone so fearful that you'd just give up and wait your turn. I understand they are currently making part three. All the best, mal.
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
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I heard that too, can't wait. Thank you for that. The problem in the case of Heather and Mikey was that they were trapped. They had been lost for days in the woods, had Josh not dissapeared, the outcome may have been different. I've more reading and writing, parenting and such to do before work. Can't wait to get into this but it might be a bit, I'm writing.